I tested a bunch of their sell-out products to see if they added some joie de vivre to my routine
Whether it be her signature 'Birkin bangs' or her seemingly effortless red lip, you can't think of French Girl beauty and not think of Violette Serrat. The self-taught makeup artist made waves within the beauty industry for her jaw-droppingly beautiful magazine shoots and has since been the mastermind behind some of our favourite beauty launches from the likes of Estee Lauder to Guerlain. So, when she launched her namesake brand, Violette_FR, back in 2021, you bet the beauty world was scrounging to get their mitts on the collection.
Considering how aesthetically pleasing the brand is, I was slightly worried that it would be style over substance with Violette_FR, but I was quick to learn that thought couldn't be further from the truth. The brand's first offering to the world was the hyped Petal Bouche Matte liquid lipstick, and when I tell you it's since become my staple bold red lip, I'm not kidding. Other than its first sell-out product, I'd only dabbled in Violette_FR's streamlined collection, so I thought it was time I put some of their other best sellers to the test.
The range seems very thoroughly thought out, with Violette opting to expand the shade ranges of a product rather than launching a whole new one, which to me seemed like she was a perfectionist when it came to formulations and again, I wasn't wrong. Although the products themselves aren't exactly new, the formulas are richly pigmented, waxy-textured rather than glossy and are unlike others I have in my extensive stash. As such, it's not the cheapest brand around, with prices starting at around the £30 mark.
So, to make sure you spend your cash wisely, I've given my thoughts below on the products I think are worth the splurge, and the ones that might not be for you. Here's what you need to buy to obtain that chic French Girl aesthetic...
My Violette_FR review
This was the first product Violette_FR launched, arguably their most famous. As it's Violette, I knew the first product would be a red lip, but I was shocked when I discovered it would be a liquid lipstick. 'Hadn't we left these behind in 2016?' I thought, but wow, did Violette prove me wrong.
These are unlike any liquid lipstick I've ever known, leaving behind a literal velvet finish. The colour is opaque, rich and powder-like after just one swipe. I found that too many layers (not that you'd ever need to do this with that kinda pigment) did make it smudge onto my chin after a greasy meal, but less is more with this.
One of the best tips I've learnt from watching Violette do makeup was to blend out the outer corners of whatever lip product you're wearing with a cotton bud, so it creates a blurring smudged look; this not only is forgiving to my poor application skills, but it also gives the illusion of larger lips. A win-win.
Violette FR Bisou Blush
Unlike most of the blush sticks out there, this leaves skin with an au natural matte finish, which should be drying but the waxy texture takes just a few pats to blend into an even flush. I found it also stuck around a bit longer than its dewier competitors as a result.
The two-tone marble effect isn't just for show, the blend of shades adds a subtle extra dimension to cheeks (because we don't just flush one shade, duh), which leaves skin looking extra juicy. It is dual-ended and features a brush, however, I find the product has enough slip that it works best blended out with fingers.
If you're after a high-impact lipstick (à la the Petal Bouche Matte above), this is not going to be for you. But, if you're looking for a low-maintenance lip flush, this needs to be in your bag at all times.
It takes quite a few swipes to get a solid colour with this one and due to the matte finish, it isn't the most hydrating balm out there, but it *screams* Parisian chic and you can just apply and go.
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Like the other liquids in the range, I knew this was going to pack a pigmented punch, and I was not disappointed. A little goes a long way with these and you have to be pretty speedy with a blending brush, but once they're locked in these do not crease or budge.
The matte finishes provide a suede finish to lids, while the glitters look like you've spent hours layering different flecks to create dimension and texture (when in reality, it only took one swipe).
French beauty to me is all about fresh skin, so I hoped this highlighting stick was essentially that in balm form. I thought this would be subtle, but it does contain flecks of pink shimmer, which leaves behind a metallic-ish sheen.
This isn't as dewy as some of my current faves (The Victoria Beckham Beauty number and Merit's Highlighting Balm), but if you have oily skin you'll appreciate this grease-free finish. As per French Girl beauty rules, this is pretty understated and doesn't shout 'glitter explosion', so if you're after something natural-looking, this is your stick.
I was initially confused about what the purpose of this product was; was it a primer? Was it a spot treatment? Well, it's kinda both.
The formula contains niacinamide, hydrolyzed red algae extract (to soothe) and rhodomyrtus tomentosa fruit extract (nope, not a Harry Potter spell, this aims to tackle spots) to help contain any breakout situation.
I would have preferred a more petite brush when it came to application, but once on, I let the formula dry over my pesky spot for one min and then applied my foundation as normal. Not only did I not get any peeling or caking (as per usual when trying to cover a breakout) but my volcano definitely looked less angry when I took my makeup off at the end of the day. It's a secret weapon I didn't even know I needed.
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I was a sucker for this chic yet compact packaging from the get-go and this subtle skin scent really does win over noses, too. The co*cktail of musky amber, santal and vetiver leaves you with a 'clean' feeling.
It's not the most long-lasting but it really sums up the freshness that 'French girl beauty' is all about and makes it a challenge not to like. The roller ball format makes it a handy travel companion, too.
Violette is a fellow sensitive-skin girlie, so I had high hopes for this milk. To help contain said sensitivity, this product aims to be a 3-in-1 (not in a cis-male kinda way, I promise). This is a toner, serum and moisturiser because less is best with reactive skin. Think of it as the OG Rhode Glazing Milk.
It features top-hydrator squalane, as well as fancy glacial water, fermented birch sap (to diffuse sensitivity) and olive leaf extract (to smooth).
Unlike Hailey's offering, this comes in a spray format and texture-wise isn't quite so glossy, but that doesn't mean it skimps on hydration. Would it make me throw out my entire routine? No way, but my skin drank this up and appreciated the extra oomph it provided compared with standard spritzable toners.
Charlotte Bitmead
Senior Beauty Writer
Charlotte Bitmead (she/her) is the Senior Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. She has over six years experience writing about beauty and has previously written for ELLE and The Sunday Times Style, covering everything from politics to sustainability to inclusivity within the beauty industry. When she’s not writing in-depth features, testing out the newest skincare fad or trying to decide what nail art to get, you can find her overspending in bookshops or shouting at Arsenal matches. Find her on LinkedIn
